英倫翻譯社/ Trsmaster

今年跨年晚會很不一樣，藝人紛紛宣揚社會運動理念，張震嶽反美麗灣開發案，青峰反對媒體壟斷，反核的陣仗最大，包括五月天、陳昇還有信，都表明反對核電，不過有環保團體在101煙火最後10秒，將反核標誌投影到大樓外牆，可能會吃上侵權官司。

101法式煙火告別2012，但就在最後10秒鐘，眼尖民眾發現，低樓層外牆上，赫然出現反核標誌「核輻人」的投影。反核團體藉由101煙火，向全球播送理念，雖沒有影響煙火施放，但101表示不排除採取法律行動。

[[101發言人 劉家豪]]
“在事先沒有溝通的情況之下，其實是個很失當的行為，所以我們也積極跟律師討論”

藝人紛紛藉著跨年舞台大力反核，五月天在高雄演唱時，每一段串場影片都傳達反核概念；新竹跨年晚會男歌手信也一樣。

[[歌手 信]]
“全世界前三名最危險的核能發電廠，台灣佔了兩座，希望大家仔細努力好好想一想，我們有必要在往核能發電這條路走下去嗎?”

除了五月天和阿信；還有反核不遺餘力的歌手陳昇；在台東開唱, 並為美麗灣環評發聲的張震嶽；及在高雄晚會壓軸,勇敢說出反媒體壟斷的蘇打綠主唱青峰,都宣揚社會運動理念。

New Year's Eve celebrations took on a social conscious this year as entertainers used the stage to oppose nuclear energy, development projects and a growing media monopoly. 

The French-led fireworks at Taipei 101 bid a brilliant farewell to 2012. However, the lasting impression could be the final 10 seconds when an anti-nuclear image was projected onto the lower floors of the building. The action was part of a global protest and did not affect the fireworks show, though Taipei 101 said it did not rule out pursuing legal action.

Michael Liu
Taipei 101 Spokesman
There was no prior communication (with this group). In fact, we consider it misconduct and have discussed the issue with our lawyers.

Performing artists joined in anti-nuclear protests across the island. During Mayday’s performance in Kaohsiung, a video backdrop showed anti-nuclear images. In Hsinchu the singer Shin made an impassioned plea to end nuclear energy in Taiwan.

Shin
Singer
Taiwan has two of the three most dangerous nuclear power plants in the world. I hope everyone can take a moment to consider this carefully. Do we have to continue relying on nuclear power for our future? 

Singer Bobby Chen joined the anti-nuclear protest in his New Year’s performance and Chang Chen-yue voiced his opposition to a Meiliwan development project. Sodagreen lead singer Wu Ching-feng lent his voice to oppose the monopolization of Taiwan’s media at a Kaohsiung New Year’s Eve concert.

文章出處 ：民視英語新聞

第一夫人周美青，剛成為總統夫人時每天都用計程車代步，不過現在傳出，為了保護周美青的安全，國安局特別去改裝特勤座車成計程車，還讓特勤人員擔任駕駛，在總統官邸附近徘徊，只要看到周美青招車，就會立刻上前搭載，保護她的安全。不過藍綠立委聽了，直呼這種方式，未免太矯情！

第一夫人周美青，出門不搭特勤中心的維安座車，只搭公車、甚至計程車代步。這個親民舉動，卻讓國安局傷透腦筋。

週刊爆料，國安單位把座車改成計程車，在官邸周圍stand by，只要看到周美青叫車，就會立刻上前搭載。駕駛也請特勤人員偽裝，為了真實性，還真的照錶收費。

[[立委(民) 蔡煌瑯]]
“這個我認為民眾，認為社會觀感不好，而且太矯情了，太假了，不應該這個樣子，我希望國安局，要適可而止喔”

[[立委(國) 羅淑蕾]]
“有制度規定，有法律規定，那就去做，不要特別與眾不同，這樣就顯得太矯情了”

對於外界批評，國安局低調說，「對警衛對象安全部署情形，不便證實。」

From lunch boxes to savings accounts, the first family goes to incredible lengths to show the frugal life it leads. First lady Chow Mei-ching is known to opt for public transport, but a report today claims the taxis she takes are hardly the cheap, public vehicles they seem to be. 

In the past when first lady Chow Mei-ching left the Presidential Palace, she tended to take a bus or a taxi, not the secured vehicles provided by the Special Service Center. It showed solidarity with the people, but caused headaches for the National Security Bureau.

This week’s issue of Next Magazine makes a surprising claim. It says the bureau has a specially modified “taxi” that is on standby outside the palace. When Chow hails a cab, it rushes to her side. The driver is no ordinary driver: he or she is a member of the security bureau. The farce even extends to asking Chow to pay the cab fare.

Tsai Huang-liang
DPP Legislator
I don’t think the people or society will look on this too well. It’s phony. They shouldn’t be acting this way. I hope the National Security Bureau takes the appropriate action and ends this practice.

Lo Shu-lei
KMT Legislator
There are institutional and legal regulations that need to be followed. You shouldn’t purposely put a gap between you and the people, but this is too phony.

In response, the bureau said it could not comment on its security deployments as it would neither confirm nor deny the report.

文章出處 ：民視英語新聞

四天的元旦假期結束後的第一個工作天，來看看一些民生相關的消息。

申辦護照多
今年1月1日開始，晶片護照規費正式降價300百元，護照規費從1600，降到1300元，小孩則從1200，降價為900塊，外交部領務局第一個上班日，馬上湧入比平日多了兩倍以上申辦護照的民眾。

陸客限購物
去年中國遊客來台超過兩百萬人次，觀光局做問卷調查，中國遊客最不滿的就是一直購物、時間太長，甚至有店家強迫推銷，傳出觀光局研擬要限縮購物點，每次購物時間不能超過五十分鐘，但消息傳出，從購物店、旅行社甚至到學界，都有反對的聲音。

山莊漲太兇
才剛結束元旦四天連假，包括合歡山、太平山、 奧萬大和八仙山等山莊住宿費，可能都要漲價！其中又以熱門賞楓景點，南投奧萬大的住宿費漲最兇，原本一間四人房，平日價只要2300元，一口氣要漲到6800元，漲幅快兩倍。

It’s back to business following the New Year holiday. Here are some changes to expect in 2013. 

Passport Rush
On Jan. 1 the price of ROC passports with a computer chip fell by NT$300, to NT$1,300 for adults and NT$900 for children. On the first work day since the New Year’s holiday, applicants at the Bureau of Consular Affairs were more than triple the usual number.

Too Much Shopping
After more than 2 million trips to Taiwan last year by Chinese tourists, the Tourism Bureau conducted visitor surveys. The number one complaint: too many shopping trips and too much time spent shopping. Some even said shopkeepers compelled them to buy goods. The bureau is apparently considering reducing shopping spots and limiting time spent at each to 50 minutes. Predictably shops and tour operators are opposed. 

Villa Rate Hike
Government-run mountain villas could soon become more expensive. The Forestry Bureau wants to hike prices at its villas on Hehuan, Taiping and Basian mountains. If the cabinet approves the plan, the highest increases would be seen at Nantou’s Auwanda. A four-person suite at the popular maple tree forest costs NT$2,300 on weekdays but could go up to NT$6,800.

文章出處 ：民視英語新聞

2013的第一天，美國國會朝野終於達成協議，讓政府免於墜落財政懸崖。美國眾議院，以257票對167票，在最後一刻，通過妥協方案，美國總統歐巴馬也立刻簽署生效。其中包括對高收入族群的增稅條款。

美國眾議院在2013元旦，以257對167票，通過參院版的妥協方案，避免美國墜落財政懸崖。

[[美國總統 歐巴馬]] 
“新年快樂，感謝朝野兩黨議員的投票，我將簽署立法，對最富有的2%美國人增稅，同時避免增加中產階級的稅賦”

本來要從元旦開始生效的，刪減政府支出計畫，如今延後兩個月才實施。失業救濟金，也延長一年。而小布希時期的所得稅減免優惠，則是把門檻定在個人年收入40萬美金，或家庭年收入45萬美金。不足者可持續享受優惠，超過的，稅率調高到39.6%。

對有錢人增稅，是歐巴馬的一貫立場，也是共和黨始終不願棄守的底線，但不想背上把政府推下懸崖的罵名，佔據眾院多數的共和黨，最終讓法案闖關成功。

US lawmakers provided temporary relief today. Bipartisan support in the House of Representatives passed legislation to avert the automatic spending cuts and tax increases that have been characterized as a “fiscal cliff.” Soon lawmakers will head back to the negotiating table to try to reach a broader deal. 

The US House of Representatives voted in favor of a compromise bill passed by the Senate intended to avoid the fiscal cliff.

Barack Obama
US President
Happy New Year everybody. Thanks to the votes, the Republicans and Democrats in Congress, I will sign a law that raises taxes on the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans while preventing a middle class tax hike. 

Failure to pass legislation would immediately have enacted budget cuts on New Year’s Day. Now the biggest of these cuts will be postponed for two months, with unemployment benefits extended for one year. The bill also ends George W. Bush era income tax benefits for individuals earning more than US$400,000 or couples earning in excess of US$450,000. These groups will face a higher tax rate of 39.6%. 

President Obama has repeatedly called for increasing taxes on the rich, though Republicans have been reluctant to support such a position. Their compromise today to avoid the fiscal cliff was welcome news for investors.

文章出處 ：民視英語新聞

紐約時報，日前報導中國國務院總理溫家寶的家人聚財27億美金後，該報的中英文網站隨即遭中國封鎖，現在又傳出中國不讓紐時派駐中國的記者更新簽證，使得記者被迫離開中國。

紐約時報在12月31日對外表示，駐北京記者儲百亮申請更換記者證和延長居留簽證，但中國政府遲遲不在元旦前核發許可，導致記者的簽證過期不得不離開中國，暫時棲身香港。

這是繼去年5月半島電視台駐北京記者陳嘉韻之後，再度有外國媒體因簽證問題、無法待在中國工作。

儲百亮在中國從事新聞工作15年，原本任職於路透社，在去年10月加入紐時，他的妻子和女兒因為都依附於他的記者簽證，因此也必須一併離開中國。

中國外交部尚未說明，為何不讓儲百亮更新簽證，不過，紐時在去年10月揭露溫家寶的家族聚財27億美金，溫家寶的家族還特地發出聲明駁斥，同時中國也封鎖了紐時的中英文網站，這次又不讓記者更新簽證，不免讓紐時猜測這是中國的新一波報復。

The Chinese government failed to approve a visa for a reporter working for the New York Times. The move comes after the government blocked the New York Times in China after it reported on the vast hidden wealth of Premier Wen Jiabao's family. 

The New York Times announced on Dec. 31 that its application to accredit and extend the residence visa for its Beijing correspondent, Chris Buckley, was not approved before Jan. 1. This meant he was required to quickly depart for Hong Kong before his journalist visa expired.

This follows similar troubles for Al Jazeera Beijing correspondent Melissa Chan, who was unable to renew her visa and continue her work in China.

Buckley worked as a journalist in China for 15 years, previously employed by Reuters. He joined the New York Times in October last year, and the failure to renew his correspondent visa meant his wife and daughter also needed to leave China.

China’s Foreign Ministry has not commented on why Buckley’s visa was not renewed. Some believe it is retribution for a New York Times report last October which put Premier Wen Jia-bao's family wealth at US$2.7 billion dollars. The report was written by Buckley’s colleague. Wen refuted it, and the New York Times website was subsequently blocked in China.

文章出處 ：民視英語新聞